It comes with the ``honorary'' prefix but Eric Swanson is no less proud in being awarded a Seoul citizenship, particularly since he is getting it on the 50th anniversary of the capital city's honorary citizenship program.
``It is a very big responsibility and I will do my best to continue my efforts to help the poor children of Korea,'' said the U.S.-born general manager of the Millennium Seoul Hilton.
That Swanson has been selected as one of the 16 honorary Seoul citizens in this auspicious year is meaningful in more ways than one; his Korean mother is battling the final stages of cancer.
Cho Chang-su, the long-time curator of the Smithsonian (in Washington), was instrumental in inaugurating the Korea Gallery, the first-ever independent exhibition at the Smithsonian, in 2007.
Cho's association with the Smithsonian goes beyond four decades of civil service. She bequeathed 400 million won to the National Museum of Natural History. She is currently hospitalized at the Chung Ang University Hospital in Seoul.
On Swanson's becoming an honorary citizen of Seoul, Cho reportedly said, ``Of course you were selected. You are my son.''
More personally, Swanson has a history in Korea, having served as the resident manager of the Ritz-Carlton in 1996 before coming back for his latest posting at the Millennium Seoul Hilton in 2005.
``I wish to finish out my career in the hospitality industry in Korea, after which time I would like to continue to give back to the people of Korea and teach hospitality and tourism,'' he said.
The 50-year-old hotelier is currently completing a masters degree at Kyung Hee University.
Swanson is now a member of a rather exclusive club of honorary Seoul citizens, which in all total 607 personalities from 90 countries anointed over the past 50 years.
Among the new appointees are Nick Reilly, CEO of General Motors for the Asia-Pacific region; Simon Bureau, chairman of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and; Adrian Slater, general manager of the Park Hyatt Seoul.
The presentation of the honorary citizenships is scheduled for 11 a.m. today at the Sejong Cultural Center and will be attended by past appointees from 10 countries, including Pamela Morris, wife of the former British Ambassador to Korea Warwick Morris.